Next James Bond Odds: Who Will Take Over for Daniel Craig in Denis Villenueve's Bond 26?
Daniel Craig decided to hang it up as James Bond after an epic two-decade run following No Time to Die in 2021. Following five feature films as James Bond, Amazon is now searching for the next James Bond to star in Denis Villenueve's Bond 26 by 2028. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jacob Elordi have been early favorites, but do they have what it takes? Peter Alexis analyzes the Next James Bond odds and follows the movie rumor mill.
Peter Alexis - July 24, 2025, 1:00 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadNext James Bond Odds: Who Will Take Over for Daniel Craig in Denis Villenueve's Bond 26?
One of the biggest questions in the entertainment industry will be answered in the next few months, and that's who will star on the silver screen as the Next James Bond.
Daniel Craig was dominant as James Bond over the last two decades, starring in five films. It began in 2006 with Casino Royale, and continued with Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and wrapped up with No Time to Die in 2021.
Amazon acquired Hollywood Studios MGM back in 2022, including the rights to the extensive James Bond catalog. They are now hoping to produce the next edition of Bond by 2028, though there have never been more than six years between Bond films in the franchise's history, dating back to 1962. There will definitely be a sense of urgency around the film once the casting is set later this year.
Denis Villenueve, famed director of Dune, Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, and more is tapped as the head of this film, though he is currently working on Dune 3 this summer. The filming began in early July out in Budapest, and the casting for the next Bond will assuredly begin when he returns back from that.
Based on that timeline, we can expect some noise in the Next James Bond market later this summer, with the odds flying around on a weekly basis as news leaks target a new candidate often. Let's explore the current favorites and see if they have what it takes to replace Daniel Craig.
Think you know who will take over as James Bond? Bet on the Next James Bond with Kalshi Here
Next James Bond Odds
Next James Bond Odds: Who will take over for Daniel Craig
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (+300) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best James Bond Odds
Aaron Taylor-Johnson currently leads in the betting markets on both Kalshi and FanDuel Sportsbook Canada. The sportsbooks are giving him a 25% chance, while Kalshi has him at 22%. He was trading as high as 44% in early June, but that may have been inflated due to low volume. The race has certainly tightened, though he remains the favorite on both platforms.
Taylor-Johnson saw recent action movie success in both Bullet Train (2022) and Fall Guy (2024), leading him on a strong trajectory towards this franchise.
He's 35-years-old, finding himself in the middle of this list age wise, but slightly older than some. If the franchise wants another Craig for 20 years, Taylor-Johnson could still fit the mold. Craig took over when he was 38, and didn't see any age-related issues during his time as Bond.
Theo James (+750) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best James Bond Odds
Theo James has fallen a bit to +750 on FanDuel, but has risen up to 19% on Kalshi, much higher than the 11% indicated by the sportsbook odds.
He's played serious characters before, and saw a lot of action in the Divergent series. That may have been a decade ago and he's 40 now, but he has a very recognizable face and wide acting range. Although, some have said he looks more like a Bond villain than Bond himself. Keep an eye on him to find his way into this next movie.
Jacob Elordi (+750) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best James Bond Odds
Jacob Elordi would be one of the most surprising candidates, despite currently having the same odds as Theo James. Just a week ago in this market, Elordi was nearly a co-favorite at +430. He is only 28 years old, and hasn't quite taken on a role as serious as this.
Famous for Saltburn (2023), The Kissing Booth (2018), and one of the leads of the Euphoria series (since 2019), Elordi has starred in more rom-coms and dramas so far in his career. There hasn't been a lot of experience in action films yet, but he is certainly a dynamic actor with a massive fan base.
If the directors are looking to go with a younger star that can last as Bond for over a decade and attract a new Gen-Z audience, Elordi could be a sneaky pick here.
Tom Holland (+800) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best James Bond Odds
Tom Holland has also dropped back a bit here similar to Elordi, but saw himself as high as +470 in recent days. Holland rose to prominence for his depiction of Spiderman in the Marvel franchise, and other boyish characters along the way.
While that shouldn't limit him in future roles, the 29-year-old could still pass as a teenager, and many would not take him serious as James Bond. However, we've seen a similar phenotype in Timothee Chalamet advance past his former barriers and find massive success in Dune. It could be a similar story if he syncs up with the director.
Next James Bond Odds: Who will Sing the Bond 26 Theme Song
You can also bet on who will sing the new theme song in Bond 26 over at Kalshi. It's more of a niche market with a clear favorite, but there are still plenty of options. The most famous would be Adele's Skyfall in the 2012 movie, with the song blowing up on the charts. Billie Eilish recently sang for No Time to Die in 2021.
Next James Bond Theme Song Odds
Dua Lipa is currently a big favorite here at +170 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook in Canada, and a 36% chance on Kalshi. It's hard to know who Villenueve would go with as the directors change, but the franchise often picks a famously strong voice. Alicia Keys and Madonna also took on the job in the last two decades.
More of oddschecker
